Henri Gerard Marie Weenink was both a problem composer and a player. At Amsterdam 1930 he was 1st in a field that included Max Euwe and Rudolf Spielmann. Sadly he died an early death because of tuberculosis.

Karpova: <"And the rigidity of the material with which we have to compose, is a more formidable opponent than Lasker or Capablanca. Because these lifeless opponents do not have any moments of human weakness!"

The straight march to the Pawns is no good: 1.Kb4 Kxc2 2.Kc4 Kd2 3.Kd4 Ke2 4.Ke4 Kf2 5.Kf5 Kg3 6.Kg6 Kg4 and draws.

The retreat of the Bishop to h7 is useless as <SwitchingQuylthulg> demonstrated. So, is there another place on the b1-h7 diagonal were the Bishop can go without losing a tempo because of the black King's attack marching to the King side? The answer is yes: <1.Bb1!!> Now, if 1…Kc3 2.Kb5 Kd4 3.Kc6 Ke5 4.Kd7 Kf4 (4…g6 5.Ke7) 5.g6 wins.

Therefore, Black has nothing better than taking the Bishop with <1…Kxb1>, but after <2.Kb3!> White has the opposition one rank more distanced from the Pawns, just enough to win: <2…Kc1 3.Kc3 Kd1 4.Kd3 Ke1 5.Ke3 Kf1 6.Kf3 Kg1 7.Kg3 Kh1 8.g6! Kg1 9.Kf4>

but he was more than just an outstanding problemist; he was good enough to have beaten Euwe in tournament play, and his studies, elegant and pungent, are among the best.>

Source: Endgame Magic by John Beasley & Tomothy Whitworth

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